Archive for ‘Home organizing’ Category

These are the three magic questions to ask yourself when trying to decide whether or not to keep something. If you need it you’ll keep it, and if you use it you’ll keep it. But if you love something, it doesn’t matter if you need it or use it, you’ll keep it. Love has a way of sticking around.

Many of the things in our homes that we love are keepsakes. Things that help to illustrate a story or bring back memories of the person it used to belong to. I love our Heywood Wakefield kitchen table because of the shape of it and also for the neat way it folds up into a smaller size. I also love the stories Aunt June used to tell about purchasing it with her husband back in the 40’s.

I love the red fleece jacket I wear around the house in the winter to keep toasty warm. My son loved when I wore this jacket when he was little – maybe because it made him warm when I held him. I don’t wear the jacket out in public anymore because it’s showing it’s age, but I love it and use it so I think I’ll keep it a while longer.

But I don’t love everything I own. Nor do I need or use everything either. The litmus test I use to determine if it stays or goes into the donate box are as simple as asking these three little questions: Do I need it?, Do I use it?, and Do I love it?

This need it/use it/love it principle can be applied to every area of your home. Let’s take the kitchen, for example. Open the gadget drawer and see what you find. How many spatulas, slotted spoons and knives do you have? Are they all useful? Do you need 47 sharp knives in varying sizes? What if you only kept the ones you loved? Would you still have plenty for all your cutting needs?

Once you choose your favorites, place them in a convenient spot where you can use them when you need them. The extras can be put in the donate box or stored in an out of the way area. Your prime real estate should be reserved for the things you use most often.

Let’s take another example – the linen closet. Look at all your bath towels and ask yourself the three need it/use it/love it questions. Are there any you could part with? Next, look at the hand towels, wash cloths, sheet sets, single pillowcases, and blankets and take the ones out that don’t make the cut. Organize the linens you love by type, color, and frequency of use.

Memorabilia tends to fall into the “love it” category. We often don’t use or need items that remind us of the past, but just looking at them makes us happy. I don’t need or use my college ID cards but I love the way they bring back memories of the times when I did need and use those cards. Paper memorabilia can be stored in photo albums where they can be shared with others or they can be kept in a box with other flat memorabilia.

For larger keepsake items like a favorite stuffed animal or blanket, a bin with a tight fitting lid is a good choice. Choose one brand (because they stack nicely and will look visually organized) like the Rubbermaid Tough Totes and give each member of the family their own.

When organizing any area of your home, remember the famous words of poet Virgil, “Love conquers all things, let us too surrender to love”. I don’t think he was referring to home organizing when he said it but if you love something, I encourage you to keep it.

Calling in a pro can help keep emotions out of deciding what to do with all that “stuff”

— Downsizing can be a tough process for anyone, but especially for seniors who find themselves with large homes no longer full of children. More and more are tackling the huge job of downsizing their living spaces. In fact, about six percent of Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 move each year, according to the Over-50 Council of the National Association of Home Builders.

As seniors reach the time to downsize belongings and move into smaller, more manageable homes, many have a hard time figuring out what to do with all of the “stuff ” they’ve accumulated over the years. Local professional organizer Melinda Anderson, member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO®), specializes in downsizing and organizing seniors’ living spaces.

“A major reason seniors have a hard time downsizing is they feel they are the ‘keepers’ of family heirlooms and so they have a hard time getting rid of items which they don’t really have room for anymore,” said Anderson.

Anderson offers the following tips for seniors taking the plunge into a more simplified lifestyle:

Start looking for other family members who would like to have heirloom pieces now, especially if they are not being used on a regular basis. There are many organizations that accept donations of valuable heirlooms in support of a worthy cause. Professional organizers can help seniors sort through household items to strategically figure out what will work in their new space. They also can help seniors identify which organizations to turn to that are best at finding new homes for family heirlooms.

Find movers specializing in making the transition easier for seniors. Professional organizers can help find the perfect “mover match” for a client, and can help pare down items before the move making the process easier at moving time.

Have a professional organizer reassess every five to ten years or as needed to make sure the senior’s home is still working for them. Sometimes seniors don’t realize that everyday activities and household chores can be made easier just by adjusting the setup in their homes. Professional organizers are great resources to help identify easy ways seniors can simplify to improve their overall quality of life.

“We are not trying to tell them what stays and what goes, but we ask the tough questions to help them decide for themselves,” Anderson says. “Sometimes just getting started is the hardest part, and having a professional with an outside point of view to assist is the perfect way to move forward.”

NAPO® members serve both corporate and residential clients specialize in a wide range of services, such as corporate or residential organizing, and many have specialties in niche areas like garages, moving/downsizing, or even helping businesses with time and data management. Melinda Anderson and Southern Home Organizers specialize in downsizing the client’s current home, plus unpacking and organizing in the new home. Additionally, NAPO® offers members education on the most cutting-edge techniques and products.

The premier national association dedicated to the field of organizing, the National Association of Professional Organizers® (NAPO®) is The Organizing Authority. Formed in 1985 as a not-for-profit professional educational association, NAPO® is dedicated to serving its thousands of members through education, networking, industry resources, and promoting the profession to the public. NAPO’s mission is to develop, lead, and promote professional organizers and the organizing industry. The association is affiliated with the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM), the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD), and Professional Organizers in Canada (POC).

As the oldest and largest professional educational association for professional organizers, NAPO® supported the launch of the Board of Certified Professional Organizers® (BCPO®) and the Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO®) exam, a separate independent certification program for the entire organizing industry.

ATLANTA, Georgia. (November 2, 2011)

Melinda Anderson, CPO

Welcome, I’m so glad you dropped by today! I love helping my clients get unpacked and organized in their new homes. Imagine… a relaxing home with all the items you need, use, and love in the perfect place for function and daily efficiency. My team and I can establish a beautifully organized home for you, usually in three days or less.